Sunday, August 9, 2009

Wilier Triestina "Gioiello Ramato"

For 2010 Wilier Triestina has re-introduced one of the most recognizable frame colors in cycling, a copper finish as easily identified with Wilier as celeste is identified with Bianchi. The Gioiello Ramato (Copper Jewel) is a a lugged steel frame featuring a chrome fork and chainstay in the classic style.

Wilier indicates that their current paint process is "faithful to the techniques that made the ramato Wilier famous". The original, beautiful, copper finish was obtained through a process called cromovelato in which copper laquer was applied over the chrome finish (very early Wiliers were actually copper plated according to some sources).

One of the best known names in Italian cycling, Wilier was founded in 1906 by Pietro Dal Molin. Following WWII Wilier formed a professional cycling team led by Giordano Cottur of Trieste. In 1945, the name of the brand was changed to Wilier Triestina, and the distinctive copper colored finish became a trademark of Wilier Triestina. The great Italian cyclist Fiorenzo Magni won the 1948 Giro d’Italia upon a Wilier Triestina , followed by other notable wins for the team in 1949 and 1950. In 1952 the factory ended production and left competitive cycling, however the Wilier Triestina marque was reconstituted in 1969 and once again entered the world of competitive cycling. In 1985 and 1986 Claudio Corti won the Italian national championships, riding one of the most beautiful racing bicycles ever to grace the pelotons of professional cycling.

1 comment:

More good news about a bicycle maker paying tribute to its history and making a piece of that history available again. I have owned two cromovelato Wilier frames and am very pleased to still have a complete bike from 1976 with pantographed Campagnolo parts - a bit rough around the edges finish-wise, but the beauty is more than skin deep. Thanks for this update on an update.